MMM: Mothers & Daughters

MMM: "Mothers and Daughter"

16 X 20 Oval Canvas

This week's Mixed Media Monday's prompt, Mothers & Daughters, was a real challenge for me. You see, I have this beautiful baby (okay, she's 4) who (as you probably know by now) was adopted. Now, I have no shortage of wonderful pictures that I could draw inspiration from for the theme, but the only one I kept seeing over and over in my head was this picture of Kendra's Birth Mom and me just before she was born. But I did not want to go there. Although we have been more than forthcoming with information about Kendra's birth and the whole adoption process, we have always taken it one step at a time; heeding the advice of professionals who have said to answer questions as they are asked. Sooo, I wasn't sure what I was going to do when mid-week Peggy Gatto kindly sent me the following poem about adoption. I sobbed all afternoon (that was your warning), but when I dried my eyes, my answer was clear. . .

Once there were two women who never knew each other

One you do not remember, the other you call Mother

Two different lives to make you one

One became your guiding star; the other became your sun

The first one gave you life and the second one taught you to live it

The first one gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it

One gave you a nationality; the other gave you a name

One gave you talent; the other gave you aim

One gave you emotions; the other calmed your fears

One saw your first sweet smile; the other dried your tears

One sought for you a home that she could not provide

The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied

And now you ask me thorough your tears

The age-old question unanswered through the years:

Heredity or environment, which are you a product of

Neither my darling, Neither

Just two different kinds of Love

-- Anonymous

The piece was done on a 16 X 20 oval canvas which was first primed with several layers of acrylic. I used a mask by Tim Holtz around the edges and again layered on more paint for an interesting backdrop (which was pretty much covered up, of course). I then projected the image onto the canvas with a Prismacolor pencil and charcoal. I decided upon wax crayons (Manley) to add color, and blended my little fingers to the bone as I added layer upon layer. The poem was written in pencil and I added some pieces of her nursery fabric for interest. It was finished with a splattering of white and tan paint to age it and a sprinkling of mica on the edges for sparkle. I added Swarovski crystals on the ring to represent my husband. Thank you to Peggy Gatto for sending along this poem. It will be so cherished by us all. To check out more pieces on Mothers & Daughters, please check out http://www.mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/